The County Lines

Sun., Jan. 31, 1999

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Othello

The Othello Police Department’s first ever Citizen’s Police Academy was a smashing success. Ten people graduated from the 11-week course, which focused on law enforcement training, defensive driving, sex crimes and crisis intervention. Citizens were taught police procedures and policies and encouraged to become more proactive in law enforcement. There is one officer for every 500 Othello residents.

Ferry County

Republic

The Ferry County Search and Rescue team is looking for a helping hand. Headed by Deputy Bill Huntley, the volunteer unit is hoping local folks with equipment which might be needed in an emergency, will volunteer the use of that machinery. Needed equipment includes backhoes, snowmobiles, pack horses and ATV’s. In addition, persons skilled at rock climbing, snowshoeing, skiing and diving are asked to register with the group.

Grant County

Wilson Creek

Voters here are being asked for a $140,000 maintenance and operations levy to upgrade technology. This levy is identical to the one passed in 1998. The school has it’s internal network set up, but needs to update a number of computers unable to connect to the system. Citizens already have their ballots, as all voting is done by mail in this town. Ballots need postmarked by Feb. 2 to be valid.

Lincoln County

Wilbur

Local historian Daryl Bahr and his wife Dorothy, a former school board member, were recently honored as Wilbur’s “Persons of the Year.” The Bahrs, who have raised two children here, support many community and school events. Daryl is currently indexing local history from area newspapers and putting it on computer for future generations to use.

Pend Oreille County

Sullivan Lake

Signs giving tourists information on bears were stolen sometime in December from the Sullivan Lake Ranger District. The interpretive signs explained how to distinguish a black bear from a brown bear, and gave helpful safety tips for camping in bear country. The cost of replacing the signs is $300. If anyone has information as to their whereabouts, please call (509) 446-7500.

Spokane County

Deer Park

Deer Park Hospital has completed its first major upgrade since the facility was built in the mid-1950s.

Improvements were made to the emergency department, wheelchair access now exists at the main entrance and expanded reception, admitting and business areas were also included in the upgrade.

In the last year and a half, the hospital has added a treadmill, ultrasound, mammography and ophthalmology surgery.

Meanwhile, Garvin Olson, a longtime hospital administrator, has taken over as the hospital’s CEO. Former CEO Kathy Simchuck was reassigned to Providence Services’ Holy Family Hospital.

Stevens County

Colville

Young thespians are invited to audition for The Missoula Children’s Theater’s presentation of “Wiz of the West.” Auditions will be held Feb. 8 at Colville High School from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Nearly 50 children will be needed for the play and 10 assistant directorships are available. The performance is on the calendar for Feb. 13.

IDAHO

Benewah County

St. Maries

The St. Maries City Council defeated Mayor Ernie Pendell’s motion to install Doyle Gibson to a vacant council position on Jan. 11. Gibson and Jerry Wicks applied for the position, which was left vacant when George Currier retired last fall. Filling the vacant seat will be addressed at a future meeting. If the position is filled this year, the candidate will serve until the November election.

Bonner County

Priest River

The Priest River Chamber of Commerce is looking for businesses who provide exceptional customer service. Nominations can include businesses, employees, teachers, city workers, government workers or other citizens. To nominate, call Jen at the chamber office at (208) 448-0901 or send mail to: Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 929, Priest River ID 83856.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

Boundary County Alternative School is accepting applications for the new semester. Applications are available at Bonners Ferry High School, the alternative school or the district office. For information, call (208) 267-9519.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

Applications are being accepted for summer positions on the Nez Perce, Clearwater and Idaho Panhandle National Forests from Feb. 1 to Sept. 17. Positions include forestry, biological, hydrological, range and civil engineering aids and technicians. Application packets are available from the Idaho Panhandle National Forests Supervisor’s Office in Coeur d’Alene at (208) 765-7223. Applications should be sent to: Forest Service, North Idaho Personnel Zone, 12730 Highway 12, Orofino ID 83544.

Latah County

Moscow

Lloyd Douglas of the National Science Foundation will discuss the foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in the University of Idaho SUB Silver Galena Room at 7 p.m. Thursday. The program allows students to experience firsthand how basic research is carried out, with sites established in all fields of science, mathematics and engineering. UI students Joshua Rushton and Joshua Sementi, who spent last summer at REU sites, will share their experiences. For more information, contact UI Cooperative Education at (208) 885-5822.

Shoshone County

Silver Valley

More than 30 high school students have enrolled in training for the Shoshone County Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program, “Peers Encouraging Abstinent Kids.” The Idaho Governor’s Council on APP and the Kellogg and Wallace school districts are sponsoring the program, which uses students as role models to encourage sixth-graders to avoid premarital sex. The mentors also teach the students decision-making and self-esteem. A community coalition of local citizens has been planning PEAK since 1997. A copy of the curriculum is available for review at Panhandle Health District in Kellogg.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

Libby City Council chose Linda Dorrington as the new city judge on Tuesday. Dorrington was chosen from 11 applicants. She succeeds Frank Peck, who is retiring. The city judge handles misdemeanor cases. Dorrington worked as a legal secretary for Douglas & Sprinkle of Libby, then worked with criminal law cases for the Lincoln County Public Defender’s office.

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